Tuner for stringed musical instruments.



'No. 834,416- PATENTED OCT. 30, 1906.

A.SHUTT. TUNER FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT SHUTT, OF OAKLAND, KANSAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 30, 1906.

Application filed. January 2, 1906. Serial No. 294,176.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT SHUTT, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Oakland, in the county of Shawnee and State ofKansas, have invented a new and useful Tuner for Stringed Instruments,of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to a tuner for stringed instruments by whichamateurs can tune the violin, mandolin, or guitar correctly and easilywithout the aid of other instruments.

The objects of my improvements are, first, to provide a metal plate withan open slot in said plate which forms a clamp to hold the device inproper position on the bridge, said plate being placed over the centerof violinbridge lengthwise of the strings; second, the said plate hasany number of slots over which tongues or reeds are secured by rivets onthe plate at the lower end of slots, the loose end of the reedsextending vertically across the slots, the slots being formed so as tofit closely to the reeds, allowing said reeds to vibrate freely in theslots. The reeds adapted for use are made very thin and are tuned to theproper pitch or in unison with the correct pitch or tones of the openstrings of the violin, mandolin, guitar, or any other stringed musicalinst ument.

The tuning device is intended to appeal to the ear. In order to bring astring to the proper pitch, the operator sounds the string by hand or bybow, and when the string is properly tuned with the corresponding reedsaid reed will sympathetically vibrate in the slot, which will produce atone in unison with that of the open string. Then the string is inproper tune, and if the reed does not vibrate rapidly, so as to producea sound, then it is necessary for the operator to either stretch thestring more tightly or loosen the same. This operation is repeated witheach of the strings, and then the tuning device is removed.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in Which 1 is the plate in correct position on theviolin-bridge.

2 2 2 2 represent vertical slots in plate 1.

3 3 3 3 represent the reeds ,which are tuned to the proper pitch ortones corresponding with the open violin-strings. The letters denotingthe pitch or tone of each reed is stamped on plate above each reed.

4 4 4 4 represent the rivets which secure the reeds to plate 1 at thelower end of slots 2 2 2 2.

5 is the violin-bridge, which is shown in the drawings by dotted lines.

6 is an open slot in plate 1, which forms a clamp for holding said platein proper position on the bridge, the slot being formed so as to fittightly on any violin-bridge.

7 is a dotted horizontal line representing the top or sound board of theviolin.

What I claim is l. A tuner for stringed musical instruments comprising aplate having an open slot whereby it may be mounted vertically upon abridge, a series of vertically-disposed slots in the plate, and a seriesof reeds corresponding in tone to the true tones of the open stringsrespectively, each reed being secured at the lower end to the plate andhaving its upper end extended across the slot.

2. A tuner for the violin, mandolin, guitar, and similar stringedmusical instruments, comprising a plate having an open slot whereby itmay be removably and vertically mounted on a bridge on the instrument, aseries of vertically-disposed slots in the plate, and a series of reedscorresponding in tone to the true tones of the several stringsrespectively, each reed being secured at its lower end to the plate andhaving its upper end extended loosely across the slot.

3. A tuner for stringed musical instruments comprising a plate, meansfor removably mounting the plate on the bridge of the musicalinstrument, a series of slots in the plate, and a series of reedscorresponding to the strings respectively, each reed being secured atone end to the plate and having its loose end extended across the slot.

4. A tuner for stringed musical instruments comprising a late, means forremovably mounting the p ate on the bridge of the musical instrument, aseries of vertical slots in the plate, and a series of reedscorresponding in tone to the true tones of the strings respectively,each reed being secured at the lower end to the plate and having itsloose end extended across the slot.

5. A tuner for stringed musical instruments comprising a plate, meanswhereby it may bemounted vertically upon .a bridge, a Inv testimonywhereof I have hereunto series of vertically-disposed slots in theplate, signed my name in the presence of the suband a series of reedscorrespondingvin tone to scribing Wit/1168868.

the true tones of the open strings respectively, I ALBERT SHUTT. eachreed beingsecured' at one end. to thee Witnesses plate and having itsloose end extended N. B. ARNOLD, across theslot. f J. L. 'PAINE.

